Should Best By Dates Be Standardized?

Standardized production date would suffice.

There...I've thrown a log on that particular fire... I still believe that few breweries have the time, interest, or resources to actually determine shelf life and just take a stab based in what the style should be able to withstand. Far too many real world variables for that to be more than a bona fide WAG. So just tell me when it was packaged and I'll figure out if I want to drink it.

That from someone who has way too much beer in the pantry - some that has outlived the brewery by a long shot.

TLR - whatever is used should follow an established, consistent format.

 

I think the canning/bottling date code should be clearly marked, and easy to read. Then the consumer is responsible for voting with their wallet for how fresh/old they want to drink.

 

I'm okay with it as long as the breweries voluntarily agree. I'm not okay with forcing them.

 

I would like to see a date on all beers, but I'm not so sure that stouts, porters, barrel-aged beers, etc. need to be included. Hoppy beers for sure.

And to take it a step further, as much as I'd like to say that a Packaged-on date or a Brewed-on date is preferred so I can decide if it's fresh enough for me, I'm going to suggest that a Best-by date is more acceptable. Yes, we would have to gain trust that the brewer is being fair with that estimate, but there can be circumstances unknown to me that are important in setting that date.

For example, Bell's sets a 90-day Best-by date on HopSlam, and that's a valid limitation. Purchasers might buy that beer at 5 months of age if a Packaged-on date was stamped on the can, and they think they're getting it fresh enough, but then are disappointed, never to buy that beer again. (I think it's still a very good beer at 5 months, but nothing like the experience in the first 90 days.) Bell's certainly wants everyone to enjoy that beer to the max, and their trusted approach to setting that date leaves them with a happy customer who is likely to buy more Bell's beers.

So there are variables that create pluses and minuses for each date style, but if brewers can gain the trust of us consumers, they know best how long their beers stay good.

 

My ‘vote’ would be both a packaged on date and a suggested best by date.

If the brewery only want to place ink for one date then a packaged on date is the best answer.

Cheers!

 

I much prefer brewed-on dates to best-by dates. That allows me to make my own informed decision about whether the product is worth buying based on its age and how it appears to have been stored.

Best-by dates don't give me enough information to make that same informed decision. For this reason, when I see that a hoppy beer has a best-by date instead of a brewed-on date, I don't buy that product.

 

I story about dates:

I am in Lake Placid with friends (three couples total) and my buddy Art picked a 15 pack (variety pack) of Sixpoint beer at the local supermarket. I poured a can of Crisp into a glass and after just one sip I knew something was amiss. I turned over the can to see a best by date in July. I showed him the can’s date and his response was “I don’t look at dates”. After a few minutes he said “I am returning these beers”. He was able to return the beers and come back with a fresher pack. I suppose this is a situation where best by dates could be an advantage?

Cheers!

 

We never had this problem when growlers were ubiquitous…

I want to know how old the beer is and will make my own choice as to whether it is within my tolerances for freshness for a particular style, brand, etc.

 

It absolutely should be standardized, but I would peg it as "bottled on" dates as opposed to "best buy."

How that would be enforced is beyond me.

 

Speaking of which, when are they going to put a canning date on those worms?

 

I wish that the Brewers Association would set out a best practices guide for package dating and then make a label icon (like the certified independent one) that brewers could use.

 

Absolutely YES. Print when it was canned/bottled. No BEST BUY BS.

 

But I agree with this too.

 

Displaying the canned/bottled date in a standardized form should be mandatory.

This website could include the expected shelf life (with a span of a month or so) with the Beer Style summary page alongside the ABV and IBU.

 

It should be standardized, and that standard should be a "canned on" date. Clear and concise with no codes to hide old beers from less savvy costumers.

If you center the standardization on the style, then brewers will alter what they name a style to play the game. With this logic, Avery's Hog Heaven "Barleywine Style Ale" would have a "best by" date further out from production than the rebranded "Imperial Red IPA" edition.